CHAPTER 28 OF THOSE WHO, BEING OFTEN CORRECTED, DO NOT AMEND

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Of those who, being often corrected, do not amend.

If any Brother after being corrected, or even excommunicated for any fault, doth not amend, let a sharper correction be administered to him: that is to say, let him be punished with stripes. But if for all that he do not correct himself, or being puffed up with pride (which God forbid) shall also defend his doings; then let the Abbot act like a wise physician, and after applying the fomentations and ointments of exhortation, the medicines of the Divine Scriptures, and last of all the punishment of excommunication and of scourging; then, if he find that his labours have no effect,—let him add what is more that all this,—his own prayer, and the prayer of the Brethren for him, that the Lord, Who can do all things, would vouchsafe to work a cure upon the infirm Brother. If he be not healed and corrected by this means, then let the Abbot use the sword of separation, according to that saying of the Apostle: “Put away the evil one from among you.”171 And again: “If the faithless one depart, let him depart,”172 lest one diseased sheep should infect the whole flock.